#psychologically

I've been in this fandom for so long (since July 2012), and things similar to this used to happen a lot, but it was never this serious. People genuinely fearing for their safety and wellbeing to the point their real life outside of fandom is being impacted. At least two people now having to scrub pretty much all traces of themselves off the internet over expressing something that's supposed to be an enjoyable hobby.

And really, I don't get it.

But sadly, as long as there's as much involvement emotionally and psychologically on all "sides", there's engagement, which in itself is a product to be sold today. Unfortunately, because of that, I don't think much will ever change at this point unless it gets really bad, which I think is both highly possible and very likely in the near future. *Newsflash, it's already really bad*. Is that really all we are? Just engagement and consumers? Maybe, probably.

I would really like to keep staying positive and keep having hope that someone will possibly care enough to intervene somehow before it gets even worse than it already is, but I just don't think that's realistic. Nor do I even know how that would be possible at this point.

Like where would you even begin here? This fandom feels so irreparably broken and toxic. Things have gone way too far and gotten so out of hand beyond what is normal or healthy. And who's letting it happen? Who's turning a blind eye to it repeatedly? Why is no one addressing the elephant in the room? Why is no one doing anything?

I really just feel like this is reaching a boiling point and a point of no return, and it really is "that deep". It's not just a fun little thing anymore. Reality is, it is and has been absolutely astronomical in size and impact and somehow still just goes unaddressed.

How much longer can we do this, seriously? What are any of us trying to achieve? What is the end goal? What point does this have to reach?

It's been fifteen fucking years!!!! It's not magically going away.

Does being or feeling a sense of being "right" or "wrong" really matter that much? Is it worth it?

I think we need to remember we are all quite literally in the same fandom with a shared interest of someone(s) who happens to make music for a living. All of this discourse is getting so ridiculous, and dangerous for everyone. This is really getting to be too much for me even as long as I've been here and I'm not sure how much more I can do.

This is supposed to be a hobby, an escape, an enjoyable way to spend free time. The joy and optimism is fading, being replaced with stress and dread. Tbh, I'm having trouble even looking forward to AFHF and new music at this point. I'm trying, but it feels like there's this elephant-in-the-room shaped cloud hanging around. It's unfortunate and I know I'm not alone in these feelings, which is why I'm choosing to share them.

I've had my anonymous messages turned off on here for close to 3 years now due to receiving an influx of threatening, hateful, and harassing messages on a daily basis. Is this really how we're choosing to spend our time in fandom spaces? Even still? And for what?

Can we please just do better? Look out for each other? Treat people with kindness? Dedicate our time to healthier, happier, more positive things?

I feel devastated and such a deep disappointment at the state of this whole fandom space anymore. 💔

1 why parasocial relationships exist?

Parasocial relationships (PSI) is a one sided psychological bond where fans feel intimacy with a public figure who doesn’t reciprocate. In this case, Kelly fans— we’ll address them as Minions— build this relationship primarily with her instead of Max, though they use his fame as context. Which gets you wondering because Kelly isn’t the 4x world champion so why Kelly? Well, she post her lifestyle and intimate family moments (ex: L hitting 100 days), This creates the illusion of Access to fans. Some Max fans may even shift attention to her, because they know she might post max, what he does, and essentially now how he may act with L.

2 Obsession with Children

Many of “Minions” often repost L or P with weird comments regarding what they wear, how they act, or even tiny details about the child. This is blatantly weird and creepy behavior to zoom in on a picture of a baby, and make comments as if you were a family member or a close relative. Many fans have also speculated on how L might look and hope for Kelly to bring her to races, pushing the point that these fans are so invested in that child.

Children are not consenting adults. Treating them as public figures invades their privacy. Studies show children of public figures often suffer identity confusion, pressure, and even stalking risks (Coyne et al., 2014).

Not to mention these children are in the risk of creeps and disgusting humans lurking on Kelly’s page only to watch those kids. It’s disturbing to think about, but it’s reality that many people may face.

(P.S. If you, or any child that you know is experiencing this please reach out and report it.)

3 Kelly’s Role in Enabling it

Kelly is Aware these fan accounts for her kids exist, and she knows how weird her fans are when posting about her daughters. Many people reported seeing P on disgusting websites, and when people commented about that under her post, their comments got deleted. This makes it appear as she isn’t just aware, but is also complicit in this circus of a show.

Reasons why she may allow this? It’s simple: -

- Kelly easily gets PR leverage: parasocial loyalty to her creates a protective bubble around her reputation. Fans defend her aggressively. Especially when she can easily hide her problematic behavior behind the shield of “good mother”.

- Power impact: Having fans elevate her role in Max’s life (and with his family/child) positions her as central. Many fans wondered why there are barely any photos with max and his daughter, when there are a bunch of her and L. To put it easily, she wants to make it appear as she’s the only one. She’s the center!

- Branding: As we all know, most post of L have been ads and many online have called this out. Kelly thrives on a “family” aesthetic while simultaneously trying to also push the image of “sexy siren” which is funny not going to lie.

Psychologically, this can indicate “Impression Management”. Meaning, Kelly maintains control over her social identity by selectively curating what fans see and later blog/ be crazy about it. This is harmful because not only is Kelly doing this to herself, but Max and kids are being dragged down with the fantasies her fans write.

4 Weird & Problematic behavior

Her minions are overstepping by treating Kelly’s relationship and children as their personal storyline. They act as if they have a stake in family dynamics, which is parasocial overreach. For example, many of her minions delete Danill Kyvat from P’a life often calling Max “her dad” and “his daughter”. Even when Max himself had stated the opposite in the article Sportskeeda. “I’m not the father, that’s not the aim. It’s always very important that she has a good relationship with her own father, which she has. But I see her every day when I’m at home. We get on very well. She’s very cute.”

This behavior can fuel online harassment toward the biological parent (Kvyat) or family members who don’t “fit” the fantasy, which we have seen before. Many of her minions jump to insult Max’s mother and sister for not commenting or posting Kelly, while also harassing Max only fanpages for the same reason. Psychologically, this is obvious Parasocial attachment + “identity fusion” where her minions start to mix their sens of self/ belonging with her family, treating it like a “family unit”.

Additionally, many dangers can arise from the problematic behavior of her minions. Her children can be at the risk of stalking, doxxing and possibly other mental health issues. This behavior also violates Max’s rights as he also have stated before in the article F1i.com. “I just don’t have that need to show my private life to the outside world. … If I’m ever done with Formula 1, I don’t see myself posting very much after that. I just don’t like it.”

Kelly benefits from the protective “fan army” effect. That’s how she keeps her relevance by tying her identity to Max and their family narrative. She doesn’t get as much as engagement when she posts herself, no one cares. But, look at the numbers of engagement she gets when she post Max or the children.

5 group chats and Oversharing

Kelly have been caught

DM-ing her fans extra information about herself. For example, Kelly herself speak with the account @styleofkellypiquet on instagram telling the account details of her clothes. Not to mention other suspicious behavior of her fans knowing her “possible location”, only for a day to pass and you find Kelly there. I have already mentioned how Kelly uses her friends and fans as PR for herself in my first post of this series, “MONZA KP GRAND ENTRANCE.” So there isn’t a doubt that she still continues to do so.

Psychologically, This resembles boundary dissolution – where a figure removes the distance between private and public life, encouraging unhealthy fan enmeshment. This is particularly dangerous because her minions may feel entitled with knowing more private information about her, Max, and the children resulting in obsession. Which I mean…. It’s already happening.

7 Bottom line, final thought

Kelly has calculated all of this exposure, this isn’t some spontaneous thing that had happened. This is a pattern that she had done is continuously repeating. She shares enough personal/ family context to build false intimacy, and allow her minions to fill in and create a picture of “happy family with a good mother”.

Max’s privacy is contrast to her posting. Even during recent interviews her tries to minimize the topic of his newborn daughter, but with kelly posting more and more information about her, the journalist often asks such questions. Non of the drivers in the grid get questions about family, daughters, vacations… it’s only Max. Not Nico, not checo, not anyone with kids.